Manchester United intimated that they would put forward a proposal at the next Annual
General Meeting.
Additional Portsmouth F. C. suggested that it might be an opportune time to amend the Rules of the
Rewards for League to permit Clubs who win either the League Championship or the F. A. Challenge Cup to
Winners of make some suitable presentation, in kind, to their players, in addition to any Talent money to
League which they may be entitled. They intimated that they would be prepared to put forward a proposal
Champion- at the next Annual General Meeting, if the Clubs were sufficiently interested.
ship and F. A.
Challenge Cup
Increased Sunderland F. C. proposed that the members should consider increasing the fees of Referees
Fees for and Linesmen officiating in the League Competition. They consider that having regard to the
Referees and upward trend in the cost of living, the officials' fees had not been increased in the same proportion
Linesmen. as the wages of players.
The President informed the Meeting of a discussion which had taken place between represen-
tatives of the Management Committee and of the Association of Football League Referees and
Linesmen, when the officials themselves had requested an improvement in their allowances in
respect of travelling rather than an increase of fee, and stated that the Management Committee
would bring forward suggestions at the Annual Meeting to meet this request.
Four Up and Tottenham Hotspur once again raised the question of Four Up and Four Down Promotion
Four Down. and Relegation, and stressed that although they were neither interested in Promotion nor Relegation,
they made no apology for suggesting this alteration because they felt it was in the interests of the
Competition.
Mr. Dobell, Third Division South Representative, asked the members to give very careful
consideration to this suggestion because it was not sufficient to refuse a change merely because
it had never been done before.
Mr. Barlow, Third Division North representative, spoke in support of the suggestion, and
whilst agreeing wholeheartedly with the other speakers, he also asked the members to give very
careful consideration to the fact that whilst it would be easier to "go down," it would also be easier
to "get back."
Mr. Wright, Third Division South representative, stated that the Third Division were extremely
grateful to the Tottenham Hotspur Club for their interest in this matter, and which he thought
would, if passed, increase public interest in the game to a considerable degree.
Tottenham Hotspur F. C. intimated that they propose to submit a resolution for consideration
at the next Annual General Meeting.
Increased Mr. Barlow, Third Division North representative, asked the members to consider making
Represent- representation to the Football Association to alter their Regulations in order that the number of
ation for Third Division representatives could be increased from four to eight. He suggested that the
Associate Third Division Clubs had served a long apprenticeship, and whilst there was no wish amongst
Members. them that the "tail should wag the dog," they felt that they had something to offer in the way of
experience for the benefit of the Competition in general. He stressed the point that this increase
would not put the Third Division Clubs in the position of being able to block changes, particularly
where a three-quarter majority was required, and the only reason they asked for this concession
was because they felt that it would be for the benefit of all.
The Off-side Wolverhampton Wanderers F. C. proposed that the League representatives on the F. A. Rules
Rule re Revision Committee should consider making representation for the amending of Law 11 in so far
Players as it refers to players in an off-side position being "played on." They informed the Meeting that
“Played On.” after circularising the Clubs they had discovered that a large majority were in favour of such
action.
The President stated that the League's representatives on the Rules Revision Committee
would make known to the Committee the feeling of the League Clubs in this matter.
Broadcasting The Portsmouth Club referred to the system of broadcasting by telephone from their ground to
to Hospitals. the local hospitals during first team home matches. They wished the Meeting to be aware that
this was in no way a breach of the restrictions on broadcasting as made by the Clubs at the last
General Meeting, as it was a direct broadcast by telephone and was received by the patients on
their earphones through the ordinary hospital switchboard. The total cost of the scheme was £70
a year, which was equally shared by the Local Hospital Management Committee and the Club.
The system had received the blessing of the Postmaster-General, and they had received ample
evidence that it was a service much appreciated by many people who would have been present at
the matches but for illness or other physical infirmity. The Portsmouth Club wished all Clubs to
know that they would be delighted to supply details of their Scheme to any other Club interested.
Rating of The Portsmouth Club informed the Meeting that they had been informed that the Inland Revenue
Football Authorities had appointed a private Valuer to revalue their ground for the purposes of the 1948
Grounds. Local Government Act. The Club thought that this was a matter of supreme importance to all
Clubs in the Competition. There was a danger that if the valuations were increased this information
might be passed on to the Local Authority who, in turn, would increase their assessment. The
Portsmouth Club were aware of one case in industry where the valuation had been increased by
4 per cent, of the value of lands, and 5 per cent, of the value of buildings. They suggested that if
this were to happen to football clubs, many would find it impossible to carry on, and they urged
the Conference to consider asking the Management Committee to appoint a firm of expert Valuers
to act on behalf of all League Clubs.
Tottenham Hotspur F. C. thought that to have one firm of Valuers would not be any benefit
to the Clubs because, in many cases, they would lack the local knowledge essential for valuation
purposes and would themselves probably have to consult local officials.
Mr. Dobell, Third Division South representative, supported Portsmouth F. C., and suggested
the setting up of a Special Sub-Committee of the Management Committee to consider and report
on the whole question.
Mr. Wright, Third Division South representative, stated that he understood that there was a
possibility of reassessment on profit basis, as in the case of other entertainments, but he felt that
in any case the matter was sufficiently serious for the action suggested by Portsmouth F. C.
West Bromwich Albion F. C. quoted a case which happened some two years ago in which the
Inland Revenue Authorities played off one Club against another in the matter of valuation, to
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